CHICAGO — One big hit, in one big moment, would have won the game for the Rockies Monday night.
Would’ve, should’ve, could’ve.
Instead, the Rockies lost 3-2 to the Cubs, dropping their third consecutive game and falling back to .500 (15-15). While the Rockies’ overall offensive production has been historically bad in April, it’s also been a lack of clutch hitting that’s hurt them.
Monday night, Chris Iannetta struck out looking with the bases loaded in the fifth, and went down swinging with two on in the ninth. For the season, the Rockies are batting .235 with runners in scoring position and .206 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Five takeaways from Monday’s game:
No. 1: Outfielder Noel Cuevas (3-for-4) recorded a career-high three hits. He entered the game with just two hits in 14 big-league at-bats.
No. 2: Rockies starting pitching has performed well in the first four games of the current nine-game road trip. Even though Colorado is 1-3, the rotation has a 2.53 ERA.
No. 3: Chicago’s bullpen slammed the door on the Rockies Monday and has now allowed one run on five hits over the last 12 ½ innings.
No. 4: Cubs starting pitchers extended their streak without allowing an earned run to 33 ⅔ consecutive innings, the longest streak by Cubs starters since at least 1974 (as far back as STATS Inc. data is searchable).
No. 5: Batting from the leadoff spot for the first time this season, first baseman Ian Desmond went 0-for-5 and is now hitting .178 with a .566 OPS.
Quotable: “We’ve yet to catch fire offensively. On the pitching side, we’re pitching well enough to win.” — manager Bud Black
